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Primula, Primroses and Polyanthus

‘Kinlough Beauty’ is an exceptionally hardy Primrose from the Primula family. . To maintain vigour divide ‘Kinlough Beauty’ every couple of years or so after blooming. This is when your free plants arise. I have just got nine new healthy plants from one clump. Other primroses can be divided in a similar manner.

Gardeners Tips

To divide a primrose separate new crowns with some roots from the old root. Pull apart or prise loose with two forks back to back.

Alternatively take divisions with a trowel whilst plants are still in the ground for more reliable performance.

Do not split into too many divisions as they take longer to establish.

Kinlough Beauty tolerates full sun in a cool summer but prefers moist shade.

It is easy to grow and puts on a good show in the spring garden.

Kinlough Beauty combines well with other shade-loving plants such as Hostas.

Most primroses are also suitable for an herbaceous, mixed border, bog garden or rock garden.

For trouble shooting tips and more information on Primroses try an enthusiasts view.

Buy one get one free as a Hose-in-hose primrose. They have two sets of flower petals the second growing from the center of the first. Best viewed from the side to get the effect the You and Me Series are available from seed.

Primulas are on sale now having being forced in grenhouses to flower before Christmas. For a splash of colour they can cheer up a porch or balcony. Indoors they last as long as a bunch of flowers and can be put in the garden after flowering.

Spring is the best time to take advantage of the bright colours now available amongst the Primrose family. The crinkled greens leaves have a good texture when young and fresh and don’t attract too many slugs in the cold weather.

If growing from seed I would select a single colour perhaps one of the Wand series that has a purple tinge to the leaves. The low versatile plants are good in rockeries, borders or pots.

Polyanthus are a form of primula that flowers on a stem. Primulas are the flowers with rosettes of flowers from very short stems.